Marco Antonio Periban

Written on 05 January 2015.

Mexican fighter Marco Antonio Periban has been in the ring with world class fighters and never come close to being stopped so I was looking forward to a tough fight!

I love Liverpool and have had great times there and I was buzzed up to put on a performance! I felt fit, strong and in truth I was just warming up and getting into the fight and felt completely in control from the offset.

In the 3rd round, I landed a looping overhand left and sent Periban crashing onto the ropes and onto the canvas. He got up from that, but looked unsteady on his feet and the ref waved off the contest, ruling that Periban was in no condition to continue.

I think I showed what I’m all about that night. As mandatory challenger for the IBF World Title, I could have kicked back and waited for the title shot but I was hungry to fight and I want to fight the best of the best so I wanted Periban. Back in May, Brandon Gonzales came to Wembley as a highly rated, undefeated fighter and I knocked him out in the 4th round so hopefully people will realise that I mean business.

I keep being questioned about Carl Froch and whether I'm desperate to fight him. The truth is that I’m desperate to FIGHT FOR AND WIN the IBF World Title and Carl just happens to have it. His indecision is holding me up. I’m 100% confident I’d beat Carl, but if he doesn’t want to fight me I’ll still be fighting for the world title – that’s what I want, to make history by becoming the first fighter to win an Olympic Gold Medal for Britain and a professional world title in the Super-Middleweight Division.

If Froch chooses to give up his title rather than face me, I'll fight the next highest ranked opponent. Whoever it is though, I feel 100% confident that I can lift that belt and go on to successfully defend it next year.